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Sweden has been ranked among the world's most competitive countries in attracting tourists, even making it to top position in three key areas: environmental sustainability, internet and mobile communication infrastructure and cultural resources. But the country is considered expensive.

Switzerland, France and Germany head the tourism industry's list of top destinations for development, a World Economic Forum study showed, confirming a rebound after the economic crisis.

Sweden joined the top five countries for the first time, having improved by two places since the 2009 report.

The Scandinavian country was ranked 1st out of all countries in three key areas that span the three subindexes: environmental sustainability, ICT infrastructure, and cultural resources.

The country’s supportive policy environment (ranked 8th), excellent safety and security environment (7th), and excellent air transport infrastructure (10th) contribute to this strong result and help the country to overcome its lack of price competitiveness (ranked 120th).

"After two years during which the Travel & Tourism sector faced a myriad of obstacles, it is now emerging from the most difficult period in its recent history," said the World Economic Forum's chief business officer Robert Greenhill in the new report.

The report adds that top-ranked Switzerland, which has held that position since the study began five years ago, "is a country rich in cultural and natural resources, including an impressive number of World Heritage cultural and natural sites for a country of its size."

Germany jumps from third to second on the list thanks to its "abundant natural resources," good infrastructure and myriad of international fairs and exhibitions.

France moves up from fourth to third, leap-frogging Austria, thanks in part to the high priority which the government there places on the tourism industry, the WEF states.

European nations -- mainly EU nations -- take up all the top five places on the WEF list, with France followed by Austria and Sweden.

The United States comes in sixth followed by Britain.

Singapore sneaks into the top ten as the highest-placed Asian nation.

Mauritius remains the highest-ranked country in the sub-Saharan African region, at 53rd overall, despite dropping 13 places since the last assessment of 139 nations.

While the report, compiled with the help of "key industry and thought leaders" highlights the benefits to national economies of actively promoting and facilitating tourism, it also complains that "obstacles at the national level continue to hinder its development."